Solar Slavery [RE-wrenches]

[Matt Tritt]

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Jeff, et all,

Having gone this same thing as well, I know that the reason solar 
installers take it in the shorts with liability insurance is because we 
work on roofs. This is IF they will even issue you a policy at all.
Every carrier I spoke with said the same thing - if you don't work on 
roofs, the cost will go way, way down. Training and NABCEP papers have 
nothing to do with this, as can be readily seen by some of the schlock 
work done by so many of the newbie companys "getting into solar"; if you 
can pay the premium, you get the policy. :>(

If anyone has problems in getting product, you need to shop around for 
another distributor. There are several really good ones available! :>) 
However, the real problem these days in getting modules has everything 
to do with the manufacturers, and generally not the distributors. Most 
distributors will do everything they can to make sure you come back as a 
happy customer.

Matt

Jeff Yago wrote:

>I have no doubt that as a non-California installer, I probably do not have the right to offer advice to those of you who are. So instead of advice, I will settle for just asking a few questions as I have no answers.
>
>I understand there is a need in this young industry to make sure non-qualified contractors don't muck it up for the rest of us, and provide the public with a better way to identify those who are trained. I assume NAPCEP is trying to fill that need.
>
>However, the issue is not just protecting the public from us. 
>
>Who is going to protect us from un-realistic demands and requirements from state agencies?   
>
>Who is going to make all states have the same installation requirements so we do not have a different system design for each state?   Just take a simple exterior dis-connect for example, and you see what I mean.
>
>Who is going to protect us from other installers who do not "play fair"? 
>
>Who is going to protect us from some utilities that still think their mission in life is to block as many grid-tie systems as they can? 
>
>Who is going to set up bulk buying programs so the smaller installers can benefit from larger volume discounts for things we need like advertising, insurance, web site development, and why not even for bulk buying modules and inverters?   
>
>Why does it seem like we are always "begging" somebody to sell us what we need at whatever price we have to pay, assuming anybody actually has the stock to sell in the first place?  Who is bringing us together to fight collectively?
>
>Bottom line, if this industry keeps growing as fast as it is now, if NABCEP or some other trade association does not step up to the plate and help the dedicated solar installers for a change, then someone else will, and maybe sooner than later.
>
>Jeff Yago
>
>_____________________________________________________________
>Netscape.  Just the Net You Need.
>
>
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